Post assembly for buried valve having an above ground actuator

ABSTRACT

An improved post assembly for operating an inaccessible valve having upper and lower connecting shaft portions within respective upper and lower column sections wherein each of the shaft portions and column sections are connected by breakaway means enabling the parts to be separated by impact, and replaceable, at a level above grade, and also having an attachment between the lower connecting shaft and a valve shaft.

The present invention involves a post assembly through which a buried orotherwise inaccessible valve is operated, and more specifically isdirected to an improved post assembly having improved break awayfeatures to protect the buried valve and allow for easy repair shouldthe above ground portions be impacted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In subsurface fluid distribution systems, such as water pipes in firesuppression systems, it is often necessary to provide valves that aremanually operable from above ground and also provide means to easily andvisibly indicate above ground the position of the valve. There is awidely utilized valve assembly in use currently that is known as a postindicating valve assembly. Such an assembly includes a butterfly valvecomprised of a disk rotatable 90° on a valve shaft within a housinghaving connector flanges, or the like, to secure to underground pipes, amechanical actuator to turn the valve shaft and disk between open andclosed positions, an above ground indicator, a support column extendingbetween the valve and indicator, a connecting shaft within the columnfor turning the indicator in unison with the valve shaft, and a torsionspring adjacent the valve shaft to bias the valve disk to the openposition against the possibility of a mechanical failure.

In valve assemblies of this type, it is possible to locate themechanical actuator either below ground closely adjacent the valve, orabove ground on the support column, remote from the valve. In the latterform, which is the main subject of this invention, the connecting shaftusually is connected to both indicator and actuator. (Both forms areillustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,693,647 to Robert P. Saar.) There areadvantages and disadvantages associated with each form.

The mechanical actuator is simply a mechanically advantaged system ofworm (or screw) and spur gears to enable an attendant to applysufficient torque to move the valve between open and closed positionsagainst the force of fluid in the system. Thus, if the actuator islocated above ground, where it is exposed to weather and accident butmay be easily serviced and replaced if necessary, it may be crankoperated and the support column and connecting shaft must be ofsufficient strength and rigidity to transmit the torque force to thevalve; and since the above ground actuator is easily replaceable, it maybe of lighter weight, relatively less expensive construction.

Conversely, if the actuator is in the protected location undergroundadjacent the valve, the support column and connecting shaft are subjectto relatively less torque and thus may be light weight; but the actuatoris not available for servicing or replacement without excavating thevalve. Moreover, most assemblies of the latter form require a separatedrive shaft or wrench by which an attendant turns the buried actuator;and the usual buried actuator form of valve assembly employs a separateaccess riser between actuator and surface in addition to the columnsupporting the indicator (which usually is connected by the connectingshaft directly to the valve shaft).

The indicator (known as a "target") must be above ground and, indeed, isusually elevated about 36 inches above grade so as to be visible from adistance of several hundred feet. One indicator embodiment has compriseda stationary cover fastened at the top of the support column, and havingplural apertures about its periphery, and a rotatable sleeve within saidcover attached to the connecting shaft. The rotatable sleeve has anequal plurality of apertures spaced in its body so as to coincide withthe apertures in the cover when the valve is in the open position. Thusit is important that the proper relative positions of the cover, supportcolumn and valve housing as well as the relationship between therotatable sleeve, connecting shaft and valve shaft be maintained whenassembling or reassembling the components so that the indicatoraccurately represents the position of the valve.

The latter relationships have been so important that the post supportedvalve actuator and indicator are usually fully assembled with the valveat the manufacturing plant and not altered in the field. This practice,while insuring accurate assembly, presents an inventory disadvantagesince for any given valve size there are a wide range of column lengthsdependent only on the depth to which the valve is to be buried.

Further still, the present post indicator valve assemblies are exposedto above ground accident and impact by reason of the fact that manyinstallations are in fluid lines that are close to vehicular pathways.Moreover, installations remote to such pathways may be at risk from farmand/or maintenance equipment and occasionally off-road vehicles used byinspection personnel. In either instance, there is potential forcollision with the above ground portion of the assembly. This can resultin damage to both above ground and below ground components. Some controlover such damage may be had by breakaway construction of the supportcolumn as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,452,766 to Fenster. However, thatpatent does not address concurrent damage to the connecting shaft or thedifficulty in replacing the damaged parts in the field. Accordingly, itwould also be of great advantage to provide breakaway structure in boththe support column and connecting shaft that may be field assembled tobe positioned relative to the ground surface level and to be replaceablein the field, when damaged, accurately orienting the parts with respectto the position of the valve.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved post assembly for a valve having an above ground valve actuatorwith an easily replaceable breakaway feature for the above ground parts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved postassembly for a valve having an above ground valve actuator with asuperior mounting for a spring biasing the valve to an open or closedposition.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved postassembly for a valve having an above ground valve actuator with means toassure that the parts are properly assembled in accordance with theposition of the valve.

The present invention basically involves making both the post outersupport column and inner connecting shaft in two demountable parts eachbeing releasably joined at a level slightly above grade (earth surface)in a particular manner that will readily separate and protect the lower(below grade) portions from being damaged should the upper part of thecolumn receive a lateral impact sufficient to cause the column parts tobe relatively displaced. In a preferred form the invention also includesorienting means including a multi faceted valve shaft adapter and columnflange stud which function to assure that the parts of the postindicating valve assembly are interconnected in proper alignment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentupon reading the following detailed description of preferred andalternate embodiments in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an overall side elevation of a post indicating valve assembly;

FIG. 2 is a partial side elevation in section showing a preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken at line 3--3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view of certain parts shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a below ground portion of the apparatus ofFIG. 2 with certain parts broken away for clarity;

FIG. 6 is a detail side elevation view of an internal part of theapparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of one end of the part in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an opposite end view of the part in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8A is a similar view of an alternate embodiment of the part in FIG.6;

FIG. 9 is a detail plan view of the valve shaft adaptor of the apparatusshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a detail side view of the adaptor of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a partial side elevation in section showing an alternateembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a section view taken at line 12--12 in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a partial side elevation in section showing another alternateembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a section view taken at line 14--14 in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a partial side elevation in section showing still anotheralternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a section view taken at line 16--16 in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a partial side elevation in section showing a furtheralternate embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 18 is a section view taken at line 18--18 in FIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An over all valve post and indicator assembly is illustrated in FIG. 1wherein a buried valve generally 20, having a pivotable disk 22 securedto a shaft 24 within a housing 26 in turn connected by flanges 28 topipes (not shown) beneath grade level, is also connected by acylindrical column generally 30 to an above ground indicator generally32 and mechanical actuator generally 34 which is manually operated by acrank 36. Accordingly to the present invention the column is comprisedof upper section 44 and a lower section or bonnet 50 joined atrespective outward peripheral flanges 46, 52 with fasteners generally54.

The upper column section 44 is of a standard length, e.g. about 30inches, and the lower section 50 may be supplied from a range oflengths, appropriate to construction needs, chosen to locate the flanges52, 46 about nine inches above grade level where repair and/orreplacement may be facilitated.

In the present invention it is significant that the fasteners generally54 incorporate a first breakaway means which will give way should theupper column section 44 receive a damaging impact. In this way it may bepossible, in some accidents, to salvage the upper column section byminimizing deformation to it. By contrast prior breakaway provision hasinvolved areas of weakness built into the cylindrical column, generally30, to fracture upon impact and thus assuring that while the valve 20would be protected the column would require replacement.

As may be best seen in FIG. 2 the lower column section (or bonnet) 50terminates at the lower end in an outwardly extending bottom plate 58which is fastened by bolts 60 and nuts 62 to a platform 68 atop thevalve housing 26. An intermediate adapter plate 70 may be interposedbetween bottom plate 58 and platform 68 in some installations. Sinceorientation of the indicator 32 and actuator 34 to the valve disk 22 isimportant the respective bottom plate 58 and platform 68 are providedwith bolt holes arranged nonsymmetrically to thereby force a singleparticular orientation between the valve housing 26 and bonnet 50; andthe bottom plate 58 is relieved at one side to provide a seat 72 for aspring end or tang and for purposes that will become clear.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the peripheral flange 52 at the upper end ofthe bonnet 50 (lower section of the column, generally 30) preferablyextends inwardly as well as outwardly of the cylindrical wall of thebonnet and contains a plurality of spaced bolt holes which correspond tothe spacing of similar bolt holes in the flange 46 of upper columnsection 44. Since orientation of the above ground parts (namely theindicator 32 and actuator 34) to those below ground remains importantthere is provided orientation means between the respective flanges 52and 46. Preferably the latter takes the form of one or more smallaligned orientation ports 80 in each flange 46 and 52 and an equalnumber of orientation studs 82 threadedly, or otherwise, secured in theports of one flange (conveniently flange 52 of bonnet 50) and looselyreceived in the other. (A similar orientation means may also be usedbetween the bottom plate 58 and valve platform 68.) Additionally theaforementioned bolt holes and bolts in flanges 52 and 46 are preferablyassymetrical and staggered about the flanges so as to assure assembly inonly one orientation.

Fasteners, generally 54, secure the two flanges 46, 52 together, whenthe upper and lower column sections 44, 50 are assembled. However thefasteners are devised to break or deform so as to release the respectiveflanges should a potentially damaging lateral force be received on theupper section 44. In the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3 thefasteners are in the form of alloy steel stripper bolts 84 having shanks86, of a diameter sufficient to withstand the torsional forces appliedto column 30, that extend through the holes in flanges 46, 52 andterminate in reduced diameter male threads 88 which fit into femalethreads of rectangular stripper nuts 90 under flange 52. The boltthreads 88 also may contain a plastic pellet to resist back-off.Preferably the stripper nuts 90 are manufactured from a material softerthan the bolts 84 (such as low carbon steel) and the female threads arecut to a reduced depth so as to insure that the bolts 84 may be strippedfrom the nuts by a separating tension of about 1000 pounds but may varyas necessary by changing the material or its dimension. In this way theupper column section 44 may be forcefully separated from the bonnet 50upon receiving a lateral impact. Moreover the rectangular shape of thenuts 90 provides an additional security factor in that the nut isprevented from turning by the lower column pipe 50 and thus is difficultto vandalize.

A connecting shaft, generally 100, extends within the column, generally30, between the valve shaft 24 and the actuator 34 and indicator 32.This is in two parts generally corresponding to the upper and lowercolumn sections 44, 50, joined by a disconnecting or second breakawaymeans. In the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 2-8 the connecting shaftcomprises a standard length upper rod 102 having a reduced diameterupper neck 104 extending through a thrust bearing 106 into the actuator34 and indicator 32 and operatively connected thereto in a manner knownin the prior art. At the lower end of rod 102, which extends slightlybeyond flange 52 into the bonnet 50, the rod 102 is reduced to a shortaxially extending key 110 which fits into a slightly larger slot 112 ina coupling disk 114 which is, in turn, fastened by welding or the liketo the upper end of an extension tube 116 concentrically located withinthe bonnet 50. Thus rod 102 and extension tube 116 will turn as a unit.Preferably the coupling disk 114 loosely seats against the underside ofan inwardly extending portion of the flange 52 on bonnet 50 so that thedisk 114 and extension tube 116 may not be lifted out of the bonnet 50once the column generally 30 has been assembled. Thus should an impactto the upper section 44 cause separation at the flanges 46, 52 the rod102 and key 110 will simply be extracted from the slot 112.

At its lower end opposite coupling disk 114 the extension tube 116 issecured to a co-extensive socket coupling 124 which is internally shapedto receive a multi-sided valve shaft adapter nut 126. In turn the nut126, best seen in FIGS. 9 and 10 is fastened to the valve shaft 24, asseen in FIG. 2. It is preferred that the nut 126 be shaped in a way thatthe socket coupling 124 may be fitted on it in only one position therebyforcing a known orientation between the extension tube 116 and the nut126 and thereby also with the valve disk 22. This is accomplished in oneembodiment by modifying a hexagonal (six sided) nut to make itheptagonal by modifying and spreading two faces (or sides) to formtherebetween an additional short-odd face (seventh side). Hence thesocket 124, which is correspondingly configured, will fit on the nut 126in only one orientation, yet in an emergency a regular hexagonal socketwrench may be applied to the adapter nut 126 to turn the valve disk 22.

It will be understood that the length of the assembled coupling disk 114extension tube 116 and socket coupling 124 is approximately equal to thelength of the lower column section or bonnet 50; and is dictated by thedepth of a particular valve installation.

The adapter nut 126 contains a smooth internal bore 130 with keyway 132which slides over a key or spline (not shown) which also fits on thevalve shaft 24 and the key may be fastened or welded in place through asmall hole 134 extending outwardly of the nut 126 from the keyway 132.

Nuts 126 of the same outer dimensions may be stocked with several boresizes so as to adapt a shaft and column assembly to a variety of valveshaft sizes. Additionally in a further embodiment, shown in FIG. 8A,either a nut 126, or other form of valve coupling 124, may be providedwith a relatively long narrow slot 131 which will receive the flattenedend 25 of a valve shaft 24 of one of several diameters.

With buried valve installations it is routine to bias the valve toeither open or closed positions against the possibility that themechanical actuator be damaged or fail. In water service to a fireprevention system the bias will likely be to an open position, while infuel or raw material supply lines the bias will likely be to a closedposition-both for reasons of safety. Such valve bias is accomplished bymechanical bias means such as a torsion spring 140 which is woundconcentrically about the lower end of extension tube 116 and socketcoupling 124 with an axially extending spring or tang 142 held within aretainer lug 150 on extension tube 116 and a radially extending springtang 144 held in the spring seat 72 on the bottom plate 58 of bonnet 50.

The retainer lug 150 is preferably a "U" shaped bail secured within ahole 152 in the extension tube 116 that extends across the axial springand 142 and holds the latter against the wall of tube 116. In this waythe spring is physically prevented from bearing against the inside wallof bonnet 50 and thereby friction in the system is reduced and thechance of parts binding against one another is lessened.

As an additional orientation check it is further preferred to provide asmall access port 160 in the extension bonnet 50 beneath flange 52 and acorresponding hole 162 in the edge of coupling disk 114 which holes 160and 162 are positioned to be in alignment when the aforementioned partsare assembled with the valve disk 22 in the mechanically biasedposition. This also provides a means to check for tight closure of valvedisk 22.

Alternate breakaway junctures of upper and lower column and connectingshaft structures are shown in FIGS. 11 through 18 where parts similar tothose of the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 2-10 are denoted by likereference character bearing single, double and triple primesuperscripts.

In FIGS. 11 and 12 the breakaway means for the column, generally 30',comprises a plurality of spaced relatively soft and bendable or brittleand frangible "Z" shaped brackets 170 which are secured to one columnsection flange, such as lower flange 52', by regular bolts 172 andengage the other column section flange, such as upper flange 46', atrecesses 174. The brackets 170 and recesses 174 may be assymetrical onthe respective flanges to assure one orientation of the assembly.Brackets 170 are of sufficient strength and number to withstand thenormal torque forces in the system. The inner connecting shaft,generally 100', is comprised of upper and lower tubes 102', 116' whichhave flat sided end studs 176, 178 joined by a breakable collar 180having a weakened groove 182. Preferably the lower end stud 178 has anannular groove to receive a thrust bearing 184 that is in turn seated oninwardly extending portion of the flange 52'.

The alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 13-14 utilizes breakaway meansfor the column generally 30" comprising a plurality of wide brackets 190adapted to be secured to the lower column flange 52" by pairs of bolts192 and which have breakable or bendable end tabs 194 which engage theedge of an upper column flange 46". In this embodiment the upper flange46" consists of a square plate welded to the upper column section 44"and extending inwardly to a circular opening closely sized to thediameter of the lower extension tube 116" of the connecting shaftgenerally 100". Again the brackets 190 are sufficiently strong towithstand normal torque forces in the system. In this embodiment thelower extension tube 116" extends through the flange 46" and has anannular lip 196 that rests on the upper inner surface of flange 46". Theupper connecting shaft portion 102" is a corresponding tube having anannular lip 198 concurrent with lip 196 on extension tube 196. The twolips 196, 198 are releasably joined by a plurality of equally spacedplugs 200 which extend through holes in the lips. In this way torqueforce is transmitted from the upper tube 102" to the lower extensiontube 116", but the two parts will readily separate in generally axialdirections.

The alternate embodiment of FIGS. 15-16 is essentially a combination ofthe breakaway means for the outer column generally 30 in accordance withthe preferred embodiment of FIGS. 2-10 and the connecting shaftgenerally 100" of the FIGS. 2-10 and the connecting shaft generally 100"of the embodiment of FIGS. 13-14. In this embodiment the annular lip 196of extension tube 116" rests upon the inwardly extending portion of thelower column flange 52.

In FIGS. 17 and 18 an embodiment is partially illustrated which combinesthe breakaway connecting shaft 100' of FIGS. 11-12 with an upper columngenerally 30'" wherein the upper section 30'" may be flangeless. In thisembodiment the lower portion of the upper column section 30'" contains aplurality of spaced radial slots 204 which receive an equal number ofbendable or breakable brackets 206 that are secured to the flange 52' oflower column section 50' by bolts 208. In the embodiment illustratedthere are four wide brackets held by two bolts each however it would bepossible to use smaller bracket and single bolts. The brackets 206 mustbe sufficiently strong to withstand the normal torque forces in thesystem. To assure proper orientation of the column sections 30'" and 50'one of the radial slots 204 is unevenly located and the correspondingbracket 206 is assymetrically positioned on flange 52'.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding and to provide a complete description of a preferredembodiment and alternate embodiments of parts of the invention. Variousother modifications may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention which is defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An improved post assembly for a buried valvewherein the valve is rotatable by a valve shaft within a valve housingbetween open and closed positions, said post assembly comprising:asupport column to extend from said valve housing to an above gradeindicator and valve actuator, said support column having a lower columnsection connectable to said valve housing and extending to a peripheralflange at a first level at about grade surface and an upper columnsection abutting said flange and extending toward said indicator andvalve actuator; first breakaway means normally holding said upper columnsection on said flange, said first breakaway means being disengageablefrom at least one of said upper column sections and flange upon asufficient impact force being applied laterally of said upper columnsections; a connecting shaft extending axially through said supportcolumn said connecting shaft having upper and lower shaft portionssubstantially coextensive with said upper and lower column sections theupper shaft portion extending into said valve actuator and the lowershaft portion terminating in a socket member engageable with an oddshaped nut secured to said valve shaft; second breakaway means normallyholding said lower and upper connecting shaft portions together at aboutsaid first level whereby to transmit torque from said actuator to saidvalve shaft yet permitting separation of said upper and lower shaftportions upon said upper and lower column sections becoming separated; atorsion spring concentrically positioned around the bottom of said lowershaft portion and socket member with one end of said spring held betweensaid lower column sections and said valve housing and the other end ofsaid torsion spring being held in place against the lower shaft portionwhereby to bias the lower shaft portion to turn said valve to one ofsaid open and closed positions and alignable holes on said lower shaftportion and through said lower column section adjacent said peripheralflange, said holes socket member and odd shaped nut being arranged sothat said holes are in alignment only when said valve is in said oneposition.
 2. The post assembly of claim 1 wherein the first breakawaymeans is a plurality of bolt strip nuts.
 3. The post assembly of claim 1wherein the first breakaway means is a plurality of brackets that willbend or break.
 4. The post assembly of claim 1 wherein the said secondbreakaway means is an axially extending key on one of said lower andupper connecting shaft portions which key is received in a slot on theother of said connecting shaft portions.
 5. The post assembly of claim 1wherein the said second breakaway means is a breakable collar.
 6. Thepost assembly of claim 1 wherein the said second breakaway meanscomprises annular lips on each of said lower and upper connecting shaftportions said lips abutting one another and having plural aligned holeswhich releasably receive connecting plugs.
 7. The post assembly of claim6 wherein the annular lip on said lower connecting shaft portion issliding supported at about said first level upon a flange extendingradially inwardly from one of said lower and upper column sections atsaid first level.
 8. The post assembly of claim 1 wherein said oddshaped nut is multi-sided with at least one side being of a dimensiondifferent from all other sides.
 9. The post assembly of claim 1 whereinsaid odd shaped nut is multi-sided with at least two angles betweensides being greater than the other angles between sides.
 10. The postassembly of claim 9 wherein said odd shaped nut is heptagonal.